Pacifier holder

Abstract

The present invention relates to a holder for retaining a pacifier in a baby crib in a position which is readily accessible to a child. The pacifier holder is preferably made of rubber material, and includes a mounting and a pacifier holder. The mounting mounts the pacifier holder to a vertical bar of a baby crib and is either a wrap around flap partly covered with VELCRO™ material, or a clip-on tubular member. In both embodiments a friction of the rubber material against the crib bar retains the pacifier in place on the bar. Furthermore, the mounting of both embodiments is adaptable to crib bars of different sizes and shapes. The pacifier holder includes a flexible upper finger and a flexible lower finger, defining a holding slot for retaining a pacifier therein. The upper finger is optionally curved upwardly in the shape of a hook for retaining a variety of baby articles.

I claim: 
     
       1. A combination of a pacifier and a pacifier holder for mounting on a baby crib, said pacifier holder having: tubular mounting means for firmly retaining said pacifier holder on a vertical bar of said baby crib;   holding means having a holding slot for detachably retaining said pacifier;   said pacifier having a handle ring, at least a portion of which has a shape which corresponds loosely to said holding slot, said holding slot being configured for releasably receiving said handle ring of said pacifier such that when said pacifier holder is mounted on said vertical bar, an infant in said crib can take said pacifier from said pacifier holder.   
     
     
       2. A combination of a pacifier and a pacifier holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding slot is a downwardly oriented slot, whereby said infant can pull said pacifier from said pacifier holder from a downward direction.   
     
     
       3. A combination of a pacifier and a pacifier holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pacifier holder is made of a resilient rubber material. 
     
     
       4. A combination of a pacifier and a pacifier holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises an upper holding member which is curved in the shape of a hook for retaining baby articles.   
     
     
       5. A pacifier holder for retaining a pacifier in a baby crib, comprising: mounting means for retentively clamping a vertical bar of said baby crib, said mounting means defining a mounting axis mountable along a longitudinal axis of said vertical bar;   finger means being integrally formed with a portion of said mounting means, and extending away from said mounting means in a direction generally perpendicular to said mounting axis;   said finger means comprising a first finger and a second finger of which at least one is made of a resilient material, said first and second fingers being spaced apart a distance defining a holding slot for retaining therein a handle ring of said pacifier;   said first finger having a hump protruding towards said second finger, and said second finger having two swellings protruding towards said first finger, said two swellings being positioned astride said hump;   whereby a clearance between said hump and said swellings is less than a gap of said slot, for retaining said handle ring of said pacifier in a restrictive manner.   
     
     
       6. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein, a length of said gap is about 3/16", and   a length of said clearance is about 1/16".   
     
     
       7. A pacifier as claimed in claim 5 wherein, an orientation of said holding slot is about 15° from a line normal to said mounting axis.   
     
     
       8. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein, said mounting means for clamping a vertical bar is a C-shaped tubular member having; a first flexible wall,   a second flexible wall,   an adhesive strap extending from said first flexible wall and overlapping said second flexible wall,   whereby an installation of said pacifier holder on a vertical bar is effected by positioning said C-shaped tubular member over said bar, and by wrapping tightly said adhesive strap around said bar, and over said second wall, causing said adhesive strap to adhere to said second wall.   
     
     
       9. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 8 wherein said C-shaped tubular member is made of a resilient material.   
     
     
       10. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 9 wherein said resilient material is a resilient rubber material having a large coefficient of friction against painted wood surfaces, and plastic surfaces.   
     
     
       11. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first flexible wall, and said second flexible wall are longitudinally serrated for providing flexibility of said C-shaped tubular member to adapt to crib bars of different shapes and diameters.   
     
     
       12. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 8 wherein said C-shaped tubular member comprises a groove along a gorge portion thereof for providing flexibility of said C-shaped tubular member to adapt to crib bars of different shapes and diameters.   
     
     
       13. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 10 wherein a length of said C-shaped tubular member is about 4 times a diameter thereof, for providing a good adherence of said C-shaped tubular member to a surface of said bar.   
     
     
       14. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein, said mounting means for clamping a vertical bar is an elongated clamp having a tubular opening, said elongated clamp comprising; a clamp backing member,   a first resilient wall extending from said clamp backing member, and defining a first segment of said tubular opening,   a second resilient wall also extending from said clamp backing member, and defining a second segment of said tubular opening,   said first resilient wall and said second resilient wall having outwardly curved edges, whereby said elongated clamp is forced to clip over said bar by pushing said pacifier holder against said bar.   
     
     
       15. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 14 wherein, said first resilient wall and said second resilient wall are biased against one another by a formed flat spring embedded in said first resilient wall, in said second resilient wall, and in said backing member.   
     
     
       16. A pacifier holder as claimed in claim 14 wherein said tubular opening has a diameter of between about 3/8" to about 1/2".